Illuminator for water gauges



A. E M GRUER ILLUMINATOR FOR WATER GAUGES April 21, 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 File'd June 14, 1930 Inventor 62w, fil'fm April 21,1931.

A. E. M GRUER ILLUMINATOR FOR WATER GAUGES Filed June 14, 930

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W "1 22 m film! bf flttorney.

Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALFRED EDWIN MCGRUEROF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY EDWIN HALL AND WILLIAMJAMES DOIBBIN, BOTH,0F TORONTO, CANADA ILLUMINATOR FOR WATER GAUGESApplication filed June 14,

The invention relates to improvements in illuminators for water gaugesas described in the present specification and shown in the accompanyingdrawings.

' The invention has for its object the production of a highly efiicientand serviceable water gauge illuminator whereby the water level can bereadily discerned even when the gauge is located at some distance abovethe eye of the tender, which is often the case in modern boilerinstallations. A further object is to provide an illuminator that isinexpensive to manufacture and easy to install on conventional watergauges.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the inventionfitted to a standard water gauge. a

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the invention together with anelevation of the water gauge, the major part of the fittings of whichare broken away. I

Figure 3 is a top plan view of'the invention together with a section ofthe water gauge.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line H of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an elevation of an inner side of y a supporting arm.

Figure 6 is a cross section thereof'taken on the line 66 of Figure 5.

. Figure 7 is a cross section of the invention depicting a slightlymodified form of casing.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of thefigures throughout the drawings.

In the drawings, the water gauge exhibited consists of the usual watertube A held between the top fitting B and the lower fitting C, the rodsD being providedas customary to prevent breakage of the tube. 1

. It is to be clearly understood that this style of water gauge is givenby way of illustration but not of limitation as it will i be apparentthat the invention is not dependprovided a casing 10 composed of thecylinent upon the style of fittings or rods.

In carrying out this invention there is der 11 and what may be termed ahood 12 which is preferably integrally constructed as shown. Thecylinder is spaced from the 1330. Serial No. 461,134.

water gauge and disposed parallel therewith, being located midway of thelength of the water tube A, The cylinder is of a size suflicient tohousea standard electric light bulb 13 lodged in the socket 14 and energizedby the circuit 15 connected to a source of sup-- terior readilyaccessible. If so desired only one detachable cap need be employed so asto provide for inserting and removing the bulb 13 i l A vent 19 issupplied in the top portion of the cylinder and downwardly directedtoshaped to conform to the curvature of the I tube and contiguouslyengage it throughout their length, which is about equal to that ofthe-tube between the fittings'B and C- The top 22 and thebottom 23 ofthe hood diverge from the cylinder as shown. Theinner surfaces 24 ofthese top and bottom portionsare preferably polished so as to act asreflecting surfaces for rays emanating from the bulb 13 and falling uponthese faces. The polished surfaces direct these rays onto the water tubeA and thus intensify its illumination.

The inner end of the hood is closed by a glass 25 held in place by anysuitable expediency. This glass isolates the cylinders interior fromthat of the hood so that should the water glass break, water or steamwill be prevented from damaging the electric light. While it is proposedto use a plain glass for this purpose, it is conceived that a prismaticglass could be employed to advantage in order to more uniformly diffusethe light rays upon the water tube.

From the preceding description of the invention it Wlll be obvious thatrays emanating from the bulb will pass through the hood and thusilluminate the water tube so as to clearly show the water level.

Various designs of devices could be employed to attach the illuminatorto the water gauge, but that found most satisfactory in practiceconsists of a pair of arms 26, 26, which are connected to the rods D.Each arm consists of a late 27 hinged at 28 to the cylinder in or er tolaterally swing. This swinging plate carries a slidable plate 29 havinga pierced boss 30 through which the corresponding rod D is threaded. Theslidable connection is obtained by opposing channels 31 in which theplate 29 is engaged, which plate is slotted as at 32 and the bolt 33passed through it so that the nut 34 may clamp the two plates togetherin any position of adjustment. By this arrangement the arms may be swungto bring them into alignment, lengthened or shortened to bring theirbosses into register with the rods.

In the modification shown in Figure 7, the casing is illustrated as of apear-shaped configuration, consisting of an enlarged cylinder portion 35from which the side Walls 36, 36, of the hood 37 converge to the watertube. By polishing the interior surfaces of these side walls the lightrays falling thereon ma be directed to the water tube to aid in itslllumination.

What I claim is A water gauge illuminator composed of a casing having anelongated light emitting opening for lengthwise fitting against thewater tube of the water gauge, a source of illumination contained insaid casing, and supporting arms, said arms each consisting of a platehinged to a side of the casing, a plate slidably carried in said hingedplate, a boss borne by said slidable plate for receiving a uard rod ofthe water gauge, a bolt lodged in a hole in one plate and in a slot inthe other plate, and a nut threaded on said bolt for clamping saidplates together.

Signed at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the 30th day of May, 1930.

ALFRED EDWIN MoGR-UER.

